"The Best Thing I've Ever Drawn"
One of my truths.
A thought that has caught my conversations recently, in relation to my work and the production of SPAKOW! No. 3, this is the best thing I’ve ever drawn. Others don’t really say this about my work. That may be too crass, perhaps they do not see it, but to me it’s clear. A strong jump in ability hit somewhere between issues.
Growth does not come all at once.
But, looks like it does. I spend my mornings reading and drinking coffee, and studying artists that I like. For SPAKOW! 3 it’s been a lot of Eric Powell (duh) Ramona Fradon’s Metamorpho and all of Thierry Martin’s work (possibly my favorite living cartoonist right now). I’m looking at certain techniques and trying to integrate them into my own work. This time is for play. Adding things to the sauce takes time. You can easily over salt it. In art terms lose yourself in the techniques. Just becoming a bad clone of your idols. I’ve been drawing Nintendo characters as little studies, trying to incorporate these new brush fluoresces into the drawings. It’s been a ton of fun to do. I’ve never been good at drawing something “in my style” but I have been trying to build a shape language that is mine. Or at least “feels” like me. These drawings have been some of my best posts on social media and I think part of that is, yeah I’m drawing Mario, but it’s also the line work. The bringing my own sensibilities into the work. These are the best things I’ve drawn. Each one is better than the last.
The Start of a Thought that Means Something.
Back in my home town there’s a comic shop. Big Dog Comics run by Capt. Joel T. Kilmer. A mix of the Simpson’s Comic book guy and Junior Gourd of the Fraggles. His shop looks plucked from the 80s with boxes stacked everywhere and hidden gems around every corner if you’re willing to dig a little bit. He has two lazy eyes, which I imagine he developed to see his entire establishment without moving his head. Surveying his wares at any given moment. He was my first introduction to a Dungeon Master and ruined role playing games for me and my brother for years. He loves his friends like family and has a heart of a saint. He is a magician and herpetologist. A grab-bag of a human.
I have been showing Joel my drawings and portfolio since I was seventeen, I think? He’s seen every iteration of my work and was the first defense into making comics full time. He once told me, “Jack Kirby would draw five pages a day. You are not Jack Kirby… draw four.” For better or for worse, advice I still hold on to today. He made comics a job to me. I wasn’t even trying to be an artist back then. I was just showing him my drawings. Now, a whole seventeen years later, I still show him everything I’ve ever made. Just now, it’s published comics. And every time I say, “Joel, this is the best thing I’ve ever drawn.” And he says, “you say that every time.” to which I respond, “If I’m doing something new and it’s not better than the last, why bother?”
It’s weird when you make a mantra for yourself. It’s weirder looking back at something you said and making it one of your truths. “You’re not Jack Kirby… draw four.” and “if it’s not better than the last, why bother?” have made me who I am today. It’s why I’m able to put stuff out. And I can always be proud of the work.
I hated drawing for most of last year. I go into that a little in the letter from the editor in the first SPAKOW! But I was still able to make work that I was proud of because at least it was the best thing I’d ever drawn. At least there was progress. Just like all things in life there are ebbs and flows. Love and hate. Push yourself!
This is all a round about way to say SPAKOW! no.3 is the best thing I’ve ever drawn. Get ready!
This Past Week
I showed off the inks for The Wizard Cowboy story for SPAKOW! no. 3 Written by
, this story is such a fun time! Also made some stickers out of that title image!
What is Comics? with Tony McMillen
This week
and I talked to Tony McMillen. Man, do I love talking to Tony. He’s insightful and considers the work he makes with such care! Good guy, good interview!
I’ll be at OAX this weekend
The Original Art Expo is in Orlando. I’ll be there this weekend hanging out and talking about IC3 with some of the guest. plus, I get to see my old mentor Bart Sears. Next weeks post will probably be a day late while I take some time and collect my thoughts about my time there!
Wednesday I’ll be sharing some of the pages for SPAKOW! 3’s title story. The I’ll Fated Darling. I’m real stoked on this story!
See you next week!
Keep on creating!
I thought SPAKOW 2 was the strongest thing I'd seen from you - mostly because the spotted blacks helped to ground the gestural line work, make it feel really solid and anchored and substantial. Looking forward to reading 2, and congrats on seeing the leap!